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Melodic Study: 12th Street Rag
Melodic Study: 12th Street Rag
Not only was it one of the most famous and best-selling rags of the ragtime era
it has become a timeless jazz standard having been recorded by Louis
Armstrong (‘Pops’) and Benny Moten (who had a hit with the song), and it has
inspired jazz musicians for decades as their are over 100 recorded versions
know to exist. Because of its popularity, Twelfth Street Rag reignited an
interest in traditional jazz and ragtime and helped authentic jazz elements such
as descending and ascending arpeggios, exaggerated syncopation, call-and-
response motifs and cycle V root motion claim a place in modern music. The
song became a standard and would be recorded by dozens of musicians,
including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, Liberace, Count Basie,
Bob Wills, and Roy Clark. When Twelfth Street Rag eventually brought him a modicum of fame and fortune but he
was to sick to enjoy them.
Twelfth Street Rag has had a show business and a music business life, Charlie Chaplin used it as a soundtrack
and cartoon serials like Krazy Kat and Sponge Bob have had the tune featured in different episodes. The talk
show host, Joe Frankiln broadcasted the song into literally millions of homes between 1950 and 1993 and as a
result the song is widely well known and loved. The composition is invariably associated with Franklin.
In 1937, he reclaimed the rights to the song, made his own recording and resold the rights to Shapiro-Bernstein
Music Publishers of New York City. He finally realized a little real money for the song, after traveling to New York
and appealing for royalties. He was successful but caught pneumonia and died 3 days later. His heir and sister
received the money and his possessions.
Pos.
XI
2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 etc.....
4 2 1 3 4 2 1 2 4 1 4 2
Pos.
XI
2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 1 4 etc.....
12th Street Rag
Ô D #7
Lead Sheet
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